<p>I am planning to go to UCF and i am currently out-state but i am not going to be paying $17,000 a year, so my plan was to go to community college for 12 months until i can get residency, i would then apply to UCF and hopefully go there.</p>
<p>Question is weather or not going to community college during the duration of the 12 months i am waiting for residency will stop me from getting in-state tuition at ucf?</p>
<p>My understanding is you cannot establish residency while in college at all. Also, unless you are 24 or married or have a child, your residency is assumed to be that of your parents, unless you are estranged.</p>
<p>sorry -- it won't work. Your parents would have to move to Florida for 12 months before you get in-state classification (unless you are over 24?)</p>
<p>From what ive read you just have to have an apartment etc... and live in the state for 12 months, no im 17 but ill be 18 when i graduate. So to get instate tuition what would I have to do?</p>
<p>So to get instate tuition what would I have to do?</p>
<p>did you look at hsmomstefs link?
One of these... will get you in state tuition :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
A.I am an independent person and have maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months. (Required: If you are under 25
and claiming residency as an independent, you must submit both your parent?s most recent tax return showing you were not
claimed as a dependent and a copy of your W-2 form indicating income in excess of 50% of your total financial support.)</p>
<p> B. I am a dependent person and my parent or legal guardian has maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months.</p>
<p> C. I am a dependent person who has resided for five years with an adult relative other than my parent or legal guardian, and my
relative has maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months. (Required: Copy of most recent tax return on which you
were claimed as a dependent or other proof of dependency.)</p>
<p> D. I am married to a person who has maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months. I have now established legal
residence and intend to make Florida my permanent home. (Required: Copy of marriage certificate and driver license or state/
government issued ID.)</p>
<p> E. I was previously enrolled at a Florida state institution and classified as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. I abandoned my
Florida domicile less than 12 months ago and am now re-establishing Florida legal residence. (Required: proof of Florida residency
classification at former institution)</p>
<p> F. According to the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, I am a permanent resident alien or other legal alien granted
indefinite stay and have maintained a domicile in Florida for at least 12 months. (Required: INS documentation and proof of Florida
residency status.)</p>
<p> G. I am a member of the armed services of the United States and I am stationed in Florida on active military duty pursuant to military
orders, or whose home of record is Florida, or I am a member?s spouse or dependent child. (Required: Copy of current military
orders, DD2058, or LES showing home of record. If member?s spouse, please provide a copy of the marriage certificate.)</p>
<p> H. I am a full-time instructional or administrative employee employed by a Florida public school, community college or institution of
higher education, or I am the employee?s spouse or dependent child. (Required: Copy of full-time employment verification on
letterhead.)</p>
<p> I. I am part of the Latin American/Caribbean Scholarship program. (Required: Copy of scholarship papers.)</p>
<p> J. I am a qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Prepaid College Program (s.240.551, F.S.). (Person?s who reside outside of
Florida and are beneficiaries of the Florida Prepaid College Plan should mark this option and complete the affidavit below.)
Required for all: Verification of participation in the Florida Prepaid Program, such as the copy of the Florida Prepaid Program
Contract or Participation and Payment Schedule.</p>
<p> K. I am living on the Isthmus of Panama and have completed 12 consecutive months of college work at the F.S.U. Panama Canal Branch,
or I am the student?s spouse or dependent child. (Required: Copy of marriage certificate or proof of dependency.)</p>
<p> L. I am a full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision of the state whose student fees are paid by the state agency or
political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>so if im independant i just have to reside in the state for 12 months? I also see nothing on there prohibiting education during the time of applying for residency, it just says attending school in the state will not in itself give you in-state residency for tuition purposes</p>
<p>korono -- if you are independent, that is something completely different.</p>
<p>However, there are very strict rules for being independent and you must meet at least one of these requirements:</p>
<p>Age 24 or older
complete first bachelor's degree
served in the military
have a child
be married
be an orphan
have special and unusual circumstances (very difficult to meet this, usually when a parents are incarcerated, child is a ward of the state or are out of contact for more than 10 years and the situation is documented)</p>
<p>here is the link: <a href="http://www.fafsa.com/independent.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.fafsa.com/independent.htm</a></p>
<p>Most of the kids posting on College Confidential are high school students applying to college, so my assumption was that you were also -- are you?</p>
<p>If you do meet the requirements of being independent, post it and I will give you some hints as to how to meet the residency requirement in 12 months (it isn't automatic and can be harder than it seems)</p>
<p>I am 17. I understand all that but it does say on the UCF website on the link I was given to the pdf. </p>
<p>It just says that if you are under 25 you have to submit tax returns showing you are independant. Now if I was to get a job and rent out my own apartment for 2 years without financial support from my parents. I could then have my parents not claim me as a tax return and I would submit my tax return showing that I have been creating over 50% of my own support.</p>
<p>korono -- it certainly gets confusing!</p>
<p>you are correct, you can become independent (for residential classification purposes) by living on your own and supporting yourself for 18 months to a year. And you could attend community college at that time (paying out of state tuition -- but sometimes it isn't too high) -- but that is actually very difficult to accomplish.</p>
<p>What kind of job can you get at age 17 or 18 that will pay for an apartment, pay for food, clothes and transportation and any tuition at a community college. It doesn't seem very realistic to me.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that for financial aid purposes (FAFSA) you are a dependent student and you will need to submit your parents income and asset information to determine your financial aid -- but, if you want to be independent for residential purposes, you can't accept aid from them. It is a catch-22 that few students can take advantage of.</p>
<p>My suggestion would be that you talk with UCF and see if there is any scholarships available to offset the cost of out-of state tuition -- maybe you could get more financial aid?</p>
<p>I think if you sit down and really detail out your plans of moving to Florida at your age, with no college diploma and trying to support yourself will be overwhelming. And in the end, the school is the one who chooses to award in-state classification, so they could still deny it if they thought your parents were giving you money or paying for rent or food (that is why they require your w-2's, tax forms, lease agreements and utility bills -- all in your name).</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck -- paying out of state tuition is no fun and the system can seem overwhelming and frustrating to kids with big plans for college -- but it is time to think like an adult and look at your possibilities realistically.</p>
<p>well as far a Community College goes, I have already recieved 18,000 straight from my parents about 5 years ago set aside for college. So that is already in my private account. I would use that to fully pay the tuition for Community college and my girlfriend and i would be renting out together somewhat near her parents who will support her, ( and me in a sense, but of course college wouldnt know this ). so i would have tution covered. Then about about $700 in bills per month
total. I could easily get a job that pays around $8 or so dollars an hour.</p>
<p>So a full time job.</p>
<p>$1280ish a month</p>
<p>-$250 apartment
-$100 car insurance
-$200 food
-$150 gas</p>
<p>Total = 580 left over.</p>
<p>And according to UCF's document, my parents can supply 49% of other expences while im still independant
Ive been working a full time job through highschool as well so I believe I can handle it through Community College.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>It just says that if you are under 25 you have to submit tax returns showing you are independant. Now if I was to get a job and rent out my own apartment for 2 years without financial support from my parents. I could then have my parents not claim me as a tax return and I would submit my tax return showing that I have been creating over 50% of my own support.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>This is very risky. You have to demonstrate that YOU are earning sufficient income to pay for all of your living expenses AND your college expenses. How would you earn enough money to do that AND go to community college at the same time? Conventionally...the residence of the student's parents is considered the residence of the college student unless you meet the independent student criteria for FINANCIAL AID...and that is very different than being independent for tax purposes. I'm sorry, but the state of Florida can't possibly be that wealthy. Think of it this way...if this is all it took, don't you think that a LOT of students would do this to gain in state tuition. It's just not that easy, nor should it be.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the prices of apartments in the area you want to live in? (Good luck finding one for $250/month!) And in your calculations, don't forget electricity, phone/cell phone, internet connection, taxes on that full-time salary, health insurance contributions (assuming that the job even has benefits), cable TV, car repair/maintenance, clothes for work, and your entertainment costs. I'd say you're underestimating your expenses by at least half.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>I have already recieved 18,000 straight from my parents about 5 years ago set aside for college. So that is already in my private account.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>It doesn't matter...for independent calculation purposes, the cost of attendance at the community college will be included in the amount that YOU will need to demonstrate you EARNED to support yourself. Contributions/savings will be very suspect. Perhaps someone from FL can comment on this. I know that it is very very hard to establish residency while you are a student (and that would include being a student at the community college). I would not just do this and assume that this will be the case. And I agree...I think you are very much underestimating your expenses. Utilities, internet access, cell phone, school supplies, books (mighty expensive by the way), toiletries. All of these things must be purchased as well...unless you plan to do without them.</p>
<p>I would be very cautious -- you may be able to do this, but you may not.</p>
<p>First -- talk with the school and see if you fully understand the residency requirements for those under 25. Ask very specific questions about what is required to both establish residency and to establish independent status. Ask whether you can establish residency while attending community college --most colleges have a clause that states that establishing residency with the sole purpose of securing in-state tuition is not allowed, and that is why most kids are not allowed to go to school while establishing residency. I don't see that wording at UCF -- but it might be in the fine print we haven't read. Get the information in writing. </p>
<p>It is very common for students to do exactly what you plan (rent an apartment, pay out-of-state tuition, work at a job, file their own taxes and have their parents not declare them on their income tax form) and then file for residency after a year or 18 months. It is done all the time. For students under the age of 24, that residency is denied over 75% of the time. The assumption is that students under the age of 24 are dependent on their parents for financial aid -- and proving that wrong is nearly impossible. Further -- if students considered dependent on their parents, then they cannot establish a different state of residence.</p>
<p>I will tell you that it is much more difficult to establish residency than it appears -- the financial aid department has limited funds to distribute to students and is held accountable for the appropriate distribution of those funds. </p>
<p>They wanted a signed lease in your name (not your name and several others) along with receipts for payment of that lease for a continuous 12-month period (they want to make sure noone else was paying the bill). They need proof that you established a local bank account, car title in state, twelve months of utilities bills with receipts, registered to vote locally, and W-2's showing income for a 12-month period. using savings provided by your parents will not count as income -- you need to make enough to support yourself.</p>
<p>you may not establish residency for the sole purpose of getting in-state tuition (which is what you are wanting to do) "Residence in Florida must be as a bonafide domicile rather than for the purpose of maintaining a residence
incident to enrollment at an institution of higher education"</p>
<p>"Students who depend on out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents." -- this means any support at all. the 50% support that must come from you takes into account that some people are on welfare or married and thus get support from their husbands or the government.</p>
<p>"a copy of your W-2 form indicating income in excess of 50% of your total financial support" -- what this means is that your W-2's must show income that pays for over half of what you spent (rent, utilities, food, clothes, transportation, book, tuition, phone, etc). They have a formula that they use to calculate the average expenses -- and savings cannot be used for this nor can student loans or grants, it has to be earned income. I sincerely doubt that a job at $8 an hour can do this.</p>
<p>you are reading only what you want to read -- which is understandable, since you want to figure out a way to make this work. What we are trying to tell you is that you can try -- but after a year and a half of attending community college and working a crappy job at $8 an hour, you are going to be very disappointed to discover that you will still be out-of-state.</p>
<p>well then if so, and i cannot attain residency, would it be worth going to community college for 2 years then attending UCF for the remaining 2 for my bachelors? One of the main reasons i plan to go to Florida is for my Girl Friend, and i have 18000 paid in full. So how would you think the best and cheapest way to go about doing this is if i am going out of state.</p>
<p>Korono...I know this is NOT what you want to hear. Choose your college on the basis of what YOU need, not on the basis of your girl friend. Certainly going to a community college for two years will save you money...but there is also out of state tuition for community colleges, and you will be paying that. If you are trying to maximize your $18,000, attend a community college in YOUR home state, and then enroll in one of the state universities in your home state as an instate student. Also...if possible, while you are attending the community college (in your state) live at home which will also save you money. Take that money you think you can earn and bank it to pay for your final two years of college at the state U. Going out of state when you really can't afford it...for a girlfriend...is not a financially wise decision. Look around at posts on this forum and elsewhere about the students who have broken up with long term high school bf/gf once they were in college (and yes, some at the same college). Give yourself a chance to grow as a person, and if your relationship with GF is meant to be...it will continue regardless of where you reside. I don't see that GF was willing to stay where YOU are....why are you feeling compelled to relocate for her. Just my humble opinion (and I'm not even YOUR mom).</p>
<p>It wasnt that i was just willing to reclocate for her, before we were together I decided i was going out of state so staying in-state is out of the question. My dad has moved his contributions to 28,000 instead of 18,000. So I am thinking I will look for scholarships to pay for community college and then I will use money from him for tutition for UCF. I have been looking for scholarships, but are there many others that do-not require an essay, that i can apply for?</p>
<p>one caution -- it is much harder to get scholarships as a transfer student.</p>
<p>Have you applied and been accepted to UCF? if yes, did you get a financial aid award?</p>
<p>Is that the only school you are willing to go to? It seems that if you are willing to go to community college for 2 years, you might try and be more open about other 4-year colleges. Are there any others in the area or that meet your requirements?</p>
<p>One problem you will encounter -- if you have a college fund in the amount of $18,000 to $28,000 you will not qualify for much financial aid until that is spent. so merit scholarships will be the only ones you qualify for (not need-based) and very, very few community colleges offer that. Almost all community college aid is need-based.</p>
<p>Have you taken an AP courses? does the community college accept CLEP test scores for credit -- you can maximize you dollars by getting credit for courses in high school. You might check UFC and see what their policies are. Some colleges allow credits for these tests and you can graduate a semester or two early and save that money (3 years versus 4 years of college). </p>
<p>have you talked with the college about the residency issue -- how they would classify you if you moved and worked for a while.</p>